India's world chess champion D Gukesh (18) told Bhaskar that he is ready to play 5-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in any tournament. Gukesh defeated China's Ding Liren 7.5–6.5 in the final of the World Chess Championship on 12 December. Gukesh is the first player in the world to win the title at such a young age. Earlier in 1985, Russia's Garry Kasparov won this title at the age of 22.
In fact, after Gukesh became the champion, Carlson said, 'I will not play in the World Championship. There is no one there to defeat me.'
Gukesh and Karlsson will face each other for the first time next year (2025) at the Norwegian Championship from May 26 to June 6, 2025. When Bhaskar asked Gukesh, he said that Carlson is the best, if I get a chance I will test myself against him on the chessboard.
Question: What was Liren's trick that ensured you victory? Answer: Understand how one move can ruin a game I was surprised when Liren played Rf2 because it was not expected. Then I drank water to control myself. Took a breath and calmed myself down. Then look carefully at the chessboard to see if any mistakes are being made. After this, match winning moves are set in mind. After a while I thought it was time to end the game.
Question: The family risked everything for you. Do you remember that struggle? Answer: How can I forget them? There were days when I couldn't take my eyes off the chessboard. Every time I tried to look away, I remembered my parents' moments of struggle. At one point, the high pressure of expectations was affecting my game as well. It was the beginning of 2023. So I decided to just keep learning, improving myself. Moved over the line and came under pressure from the home support. Sometimes the pressure of expectations can change your goal, so it is better to come out of it at the right time.
As soon as Gukesh received the trophy, he gave it to his father and mother. Mother kissed her trophy.
Question: Anand has become champion 5 times. What is your strategy now? Answer: I try to make the game better. The place I am at was a phase of life. The next task is to maintain myself at that level, which is more difficult than any challenge I have faced in my career so far.
Question: Have you trained hard over the years? Answer: I remember winning the Under-9 category for the first time in 2015 in the Asian School Chess Championship. From then on I made the training more complicated. My parents were careful at every moment that I should not be distracted for any reason. Five years ago I, Arjun, Pragyanand and Nihal were going to become Grandmasters. Everyone was trying to outdo each other, but we all made it to the top.
Gukesh said that he was inspired by Liren, but it was his own mistakes that allowed him to become the champion.
related to Gukesh…
18-year-old Gukesh becomes youngest world chess champion: Defeats China's defending champion in 14th game; Second Indian after Vishwanath Anand
Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has won the World Chess Championship title. He became the youngest player in the world to achieve such a feat, at just 18 years of age. He defeated defending champion Ding Liren of China in the 14th game. With this the score became 7.5-6.5 and Gukesh became the champion. …
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
